Yoga is an ancient practice that seems to have gained popularity since the beginning of the 20th century. Yoga can be defined as a practice that brings together the mind and the body. It is a combination of meditation, breathing exercises, and relaxation. Statistics show that more than 20 million Americans are practicing yoga today. That is a representation of the people who are becoming fond of the practice worldwide.
The number of people interested in yoga classes keeps increasing by the day, which has consequently led to the number of practitioners rising by 50 percent. It is not a coincidence. There must be a reason behind the growing interest in the practice. Are you a member of any yoga class? If the answer is no, the following reasons should compel you to do so.
1. Stress reduction
Yoga can help reduce stress. It is a fact that has been supported by science. Anxiety is not uncommon, especially if you have a busy life. There is so much to handle at a time such that you end up being overwhelmed. It goes all the way from trying to balance work, family, and school to even financial strain. As inevitable as it may be, this does not mean that there is no positive way to cope with it. If not taken care of, stress could escalate to something more like anxiety.
Dedicating some time to yoga will help. It brings together mental and physical disciplines which invite a sense of calm and relaxation.
2. Weight loss
Have you been struggling with weight? On top of San Antonio weight loss procedures, yoga is also another activity that you can take up for weight management. It is worth noting that weight loss through yoga does not work as traditional exercises do. Why? You can lose up to 400 calories in an hour while jogging. The speed at which you are running will determine the time that you take to lose as many calories. It can take you even thirty minutes. On the other hand, you can lose around 200 calories if you practice yoga for an hour.
When it comes to losing weight with yoga, it takes more than just physical exercise. Since the practice involves the mind too, one can focus and develop a positive attitude towards weight loss. Mindfulness taught in a yoga class comes in handy when controlling the eating speed and portions, which all make a significant contribution to the loss of or gaining of weight.
3. Reduce inflammation
Studies have shown that three months of doing yoga could help reduce inflammation. Inflammation occurs when your immune system tries to protect your body from foreign substances by releasing white blood cells. The result is usually warmth and redness in the affected area. Sitting for about an hour doing yoga practices like breathing and meditating will increase the number of anti-inflammatory markers in your body, which will result in reduced inflammation.
4. Improves the quality of life
Yoga will generally improve your quality of life. If you are battling diseases like cancer, the practice will equip you both physically and mentally to better cope with the disease. More so, the more you practice yoga, the more aware of yourself you become. With that, you will be mindful of everything that you do. This will lead to better decisions, a better state of mind and your health too.
5. Improve sleep quality
Getting quality sleep is detrimental. It is one of the ways through which you can avoid conditions such as depression, obesity, and high blood pressure to mention a few. Did you know that practicing yoga can make your sleep better? Now you know. As you combine the various practices of yoga, a hormone known as melatonin is secreted. The hormone is responsible for sleep regulation. As you are aware, some disorders like stress, anxiety, and depression also interfere with healthy sleep patterns. Since yoga takes care of them, you can only expect your sleep to become better.
The dramatic increase in the number of people who do yoga is a clear indicator of the benefits that the practice carries. If you are yet to start a yoga class, do not waste any more time.
